Infinity 1.2s User Manual

Owner’s Guide

INTERMEZZO™1.2s

ii

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

THIS INFINITY PRODUCT IS DESIGNED FOR 120-VOLT USE ONLY! FOR
DETAILED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, PLEASE SEE FOLLOWING PAGE IN THIS
OWNER’S MANUAL FOR “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.”

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the product.

L’éclair avec le symbole de la flèche, placé dans les limites d’un triangel équilatéral est
prévu pour avertir l’utilisateur de la présence de “tension dangereuse” non isolée dans
l’enceinte du produit qui pourrait être d’une importance suffisante pour présenter un
risque d’électrocution aux personnes.

Le point d’exclamation dans un triangel équilateral est prévu pour avertir l’utilisateur
de la présence d’instructions importantes pour les opérations et l’entretien (service)
dans les manuels fournis avec l’appareil.

ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES, INTRODUIRE

LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE

CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQUAU FOND.

Este destello luminoso con un símbolo de punta de flecha dentro de un triángulo
equilátero tiene el objectivo de alertar al usuario sobre la presencia de “voltaje
peligroso” no aislado dentro de la caja del producto que puede ser de magnitud lo
suficientemente grande para constituir un riesgo de choque eléctrico para las personas.

Este punto de exclamación dentro de un triángulo equilátero tiene el objectivo de
alertar al usuario sobre la existencia de instrucciones operativas y de mantenimiento
(servicio) importantes en la literatura que acomaña el aparato.

CUIDADO: PARA REDUCIR EL RIESGO DE CHOQUE ELÉCTRICO, NO

RETIRE LA CUBIERTA (O RESPALDO). DENTRO NO HAY PEIZAS A LAS

QUE EL USUARIO PUEDE DAR SERVICIO. REMITA EL SERVICIO AL

PERSONAL DE SERVICIO CALIFICADO.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT OPEN.

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE – NE PAS OUVRIR.

CUIDADO: PELIGRO DE CHOQUE ELÉCTRICO – NO ABRIR.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (0R BACK)

NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

Read First!

1.Read Instructions.All the safety and operating

instructions should be read before the product is
operated.

2.Retain Instructions.The safety and operating
instructions should be retained for future reference.

3.Heed Warnings.All warnings on the product and in
the operating instructions should be adhered to.

4.Follow Instructions.All operating and use
instructions should be followed.

5.Cleaning. Unplug this product from the wall outlet
before cleaning.Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol
cleaners.Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

6.Attachments.Do not use attachments not
recommended by the product manufacturer,
as they may cause hazards.

7.Water and Moisture.To reduce the risk of fire or
electric shock,do not use this product outdoors or
near water–for example,near a bathtub,wash bowl,
kitchen sink or laundry tub;in a wet basement; near a
swimming pool;or the like.

8.Accessories. Do not place this product on an
unstable cart,stand, tripod,bracket or table.The
product may fall,causing serious injury to a child or
adult,and serious damage to the product.Use only
with a cart,stand, tripod,bracket or table
recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the
product. Any mounting of the product should follow the
manufacturer’s instructions,and should use a
mounting accessory recommended by the
manufacturer.

9.A Product and Cart Combination
Should Be Moved with Care.Quick

stops,excessive force and uneven
surfaces may cause the product and
cart combination to overturn.

10.Ventilation. Slots and openings in the cabinet are
provided for ventilation and to ensure reliable
operation of the product and to protect it from
overheating,and these openings must not be blocked
or covered.The openings should never be blocked by
placing the product on a bed,sofa,rug or other
similar surface.This product should not be placed in a
built-in installation,such as a bookcase or rack,
unless proper ventilation is provided or the
manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.

11.Power Sources.This product should be operated
only from the type of power source indicated on the
marking label.If you are not sure of the type of power
supply to your home,consult your product dealer or
local power company.For products intended to operate
from battery power, or other sources,refer to the
operating instructions.

12.Grounding or Polarization.This product may be
equipped with a polarized alternating-current-line plug
(a plug having one blade wider than the other).This
plug will fit into the power outlet only one way.This is
a safety feature.If you are unable to insert the plug
fully into the outlet,try reversing the plug.If the plug
should still fail to fit,contact your electrician to
replace your obsolete outlet.Do not defeat the safety
purpose of the polarized plug.

13.Power-Cord Protection. Power-supply cords should
be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against them,paying
particular attention to cords at plugs,convenience
receptacles,and the point where they exit from the
product.

14.Nonuse Periods.The power cord of the product
should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused
for long periods of time.

15.Outdoor Antenna Grounding. If an outside antenna
or cable system is connected to the product,be sure
the antenna or cable system is grounded so as to
provide some protection against voltage surges and
built-up static charges.Ar ticle 810 of the National
Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, provides information
with regard to proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure,grounding of the lead-in wire to
an antenna discharge unit,size of grounding
conductors,location of antenna-discharge unit,
connection to grounding electrodes,and requirements
for the grounding electrode. See Figure A.

16.Lightning. For added protection for this product
during a lightning storm,or when it is left unattended
and unused for long periods of time,unplug it from
the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable
system. This will prevent damage to the product due to
lightning and power-line surges.

17.Power Lines.An outside antenna system should not
be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines or
other electric light or power circuits,or where it can
fall into such power lines or circuits.When installing
an outside antenna system,extreme care should be
taken to keep from touching such power lines or
circuits,as contact with them might be fatal.

18.Overloading. Do not overload wall outlets,extension
cords,or integral convenience receptacles, as this can
result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

19.Object and Liquid Entry.Never push objects of any
kind into this product through openings,as they may
touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that
could result in a fire or electric shock.Never spill
liquid of any kind on the product.

20.Servicing. Do not attempt to service this product
yourself,as opening or removing covers may expose
you to dangerous voltage or other hazards.Refer all
servicing to qualified service personnel.

21.Damage Requiring Service. Unplug this product
from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified
service personnel under the following conditions:
a. The power-supply cord or the plug has been
damaged;or
b. Objects have fallen onto, or liquid has been spilled
into,the product;or
c. The product has been exposed to rain or water; or
d. The product does not operate normally when
following the operating instructions.Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the operating instructions,
as an improper adjustment of other controls may
result in damage and will often require extensive work
by a qualified technician to restore the product to its
normal operation;or
e. The product has been dropped or damaged in any
way;or
f. The product exhibits a distinct change in
performance; this indicates a need for service.

22.Replacement Parts. When replacement parts are
required,be sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or
that have the same characteristics as the original
part.Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire,
electric shock or other hazards.

23.Safety Check. Upon completion of any service or
repairs to this product,ask the service technician to
perform safety checks to determine that the product is
in proper operating condition.

24.Wall or Ceiling Mounting.The product should be
mounted to a wall or ceiling only as recommended by
the manufacturer.

25.Heat.The product should be situated away from
heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,stoves
or other products (including amplifiers) that produce
heat.

Figure A.
Example of Antenna Grounding as per
National Electrical Code ANSI/NFPA 70

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

iii

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

The lightning flash with arrowhead
symbol within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence
of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying
the appliance.

Antenna Lead-In Wire

Ground Clamp

Antenna Discharge Unit (NEC Section 810-20)

Grounding Conductors (NEC Section 810-21)

Electric Service Equipment

Ground Clamps

Power Service Grounding Electrode System
(NEC Art. 250, Part H)

ii Caution

iii Important Safety Precautions

1 Technology
1 Ceramic Metal Matrix Diaphragms

™

(C.M.M.D.)

1 Room-Friendly Acoustical Design
2 Unpacking the Product/Included Accessories
3 Placement
4 Controls and Connections
5 Connection Methods 1–4
8 Operation
9 Room Adaptive Bass Optimization System

™

(R.A.B.O.S.)

10 Contents of the R.A.B.O.S.Test CD
10 R.A.B.O.S.Sound-Level Meter (RSLM)
15 What You Measure,What To Do
18 Adjusting the R.A.B.O.S.Equalizer
19 Final System Balance
20 Maintenance and Service
21 Specifications
22 R.A.B.O.S.Measurement T emplates

Table of Contents

INTERMEZZO 1.2S OWNER’S GUIDE

iv

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

1

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

Intermezzo Series loudspeakers incorporate several innovative
technologies that,when implemented by exceptional engineering
talent after hours upon hours of subjective listening evaluations,
result in a loudspeaker that realistically and accurately reproduces
the signal source with minimal distortion and coloration.

CeramicMetalMatrixDiaphragms™(C.M.M.D.)

For decades,loudspeaker engineers have known that the ideal
transducer should be stiff,yet light,and have high internal
damping (damping is a material’s ability to absorb energy).
Infinity’s C.M.M.D.transducer is a significant advance in
transducer technology.Ceramic,a class of material new to
loudspeakers,offers better performance than that of other
materials.Ceramic is stiffer than metals and lighter than plastics
and typical composite materials;it also offers improved damping.
These ceramic-based transducers take us a giant step closer to
the ever-elusive “ideal transducer.”

In tweeters,C.M.M.D.technology offers stiffness and damping
superior to that of traditional metals and soft-dome materials.
In woofer and midrange applications,it offers accurate pistonic
operation over the entire frequency range of the driver,
completely eliminating coloration due to cone breakup and
dramatically reducing distortion. And when ceramic-metal-matrix
transducers are exposed to moisture,sunlight or extreme
temperatures,their performance does not deteriorate.

In addition to ceramic diaphragms,all the transducers incorporate
magnetic shielding and rigid cast-frames that,through our FEA
computer modeling and scanning-laser-vibrometer measurements,
have been optimized to reduce resonances. This ensures minimal
distortion and incomparable performance.

Amplifier

BASH®is an amplifier-power-supply technology that increases
efficiency by reducing power dissipation in the output section.
The BASH topology uses a high-efficiency,fast-response,switch­mode power supply that provides the main voltage rails for a
linear Class-AB amplifier.By varying the output of the power
supply with the audio signal being amplified,a constant voltage
drop across the output transistors of the linear amplifier can be
maintained. This means that the power dissipation in the output
transistors is greatly reduced.

The result is an extremely efficient audio amplifier that does not
compromise audio performance.

Room-Friendly Acoust ical Design

Driver quality is not the only requirement for exceptional
performance.Infinity’s engineers understand that the room in
which the loudspeaker is placed can greatly affect its
performance.To ensure that Intermezzo Series loudspeakers will
sound exceptional in even the most unexceptional listening
environment,Infinity has developed the proprietary Room Adaptive
Bass Optimization System™ (R.A.B.O.S.™).With a single band of
parametric equalization,the Intermezzo 1.2s can be adjusted to
tame any problematic room bass resonances below 80Hz.

We hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the technology
of Intermezzo loudspeakers.If you would like to further explore
their technology and design,please ask your Infinity dealer
for the C.M.M.D.and R.A.B.O.S. White Papers.The White
Papers can also be downloaded from Infinity’s Web site at
www.infinitysystems.com.

TECHNOLOGY

Power

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8

-9

-10

-11

-13

-15

-18

U-R

Batt

Unpacking the Product

Finish unpacking the speakers and check the contents.If you
suspect damage from transit,report it immediately to your dealer
and/or delivery service.Keep the shipping carton and packing
materials for future use.

Included Accessories ...

Grille Decorative

Side Panel

AC Cord

R.A.B.O.S.Kit (1)

Sound-Level Meter R.A.B.O.S.Test CD

Graph T emplates Bandwidth Selector

Adjustment Key

2

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

3

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

Since the installation of a subwoofer can be somewhat more
complicated than installing full-range speakers,it is essential
that you read this section very carefully prior to connecting the
subwoofer to your system.Should you have questions relating to
your installation,it is advisable to call either your dealer or
Infinity’s Customer Service Department for advice.

The performance of the subwoofer is directly related to its
placement in the listening room and how you align the subwoofer
with its satellite speakers.Setting the volume of the subwoofer in
relationship to the left and right speakers is also of critical
importance because it is essential that the subwoofer integrates
smoothly with the entire system.Setting the subwoofer’s volume
level too high will result in an overpowering,boomy bass. Setting
the volume level too low will negate the effect of the subwoofer.

Generally speaking,the closer the subwoofer is placed to a room
boundary (walls and corners),the more bass output there will be.
If you are hearing too much low-frequency sound in relation to
the rest of the program material, move the subwoofer further
from the corner or wall.Conversely, if,after making all adjust­ments,there is still not enough low-frequency energy, move the
subwoofer closer to a wall or corner.

Here are several additional facts on installation that may prove
useful.It is generally believed by most audio authorities that low
frequencies (below 125Hz) are nondirectional and, therefore,
placement of a subwoofer within any listening room is not
critical.While in theory it is true that the larger wavelengths,of
extremely low frequencies,are basically nondirectional,the fact
is that when installing a subwoofer within the limited confines of
a room,reflections,standing waves and absorptions generated
within the room will strongly influence the performance of any
subwoofer system.As a result,specific location of the subwoofer
becomes important,and we strongly recommend that you
experiment with placement before choosing a final location.

Placement will depend upon your room and the amount and
quality of bass required (for example, whether or not your room
permits placement of the subwoofer near either satellite).

PLACEMENT

➢

➢

SOFA

FRONT

LEFT

LEFT

SURROUND

FRONT
RIGHT

RIGHT
SURROUND

TV

CENTER

SUB

➢

➢

SOFA

LEFT

CHANNEL

RIGHT
CHANNEL

SUB

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

1

AC-Cord Input

2

Power Switch

3

Speaker-Level Inputs

4

Speaker-Level Outputs

5

High-Level High-Pass Filter Switch

6

Low-Level-Input Connectors

7

Low-Level-Output Connectors

8

Phase Switch

9

Low-Pass Filter Switch

J

Variable Low-Pass Filter Adjustment

K

Subwoofer-Level Control

R.A.B.O.S.Controls

L

Center-F requency Adjustment

M

R.A.B.O.S.Level

N

Bandwidth Adjustment

CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS

Rear Panel

Front Panel

4

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

1

120V – 60HZ 6A

F

L

2

POWER

AC FUSE

6A 250V

M

L

3

L

–

INPUTS OUTPUTS

R

–

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN

RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR

K

¢

N

W

›

–

–

4

L

R

++

567

OFF

ON

HIGH-LEVEL

++

HIGH-PASS

FILTER

LOW­LEVEL
INPUT

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

89

L

R

OUTPUT

LOW-

LEVEL

0

PHASE

180

OFF

ON

LOW-PASS

FILTER

J

80

50 130

LOW-PASS

FILTER

The Infinity Intermezzo 1.2s offers unprecedented flexibility for
connecting the system to any type of audio or home-theater system.
Consult the table at right to determine which system description
most closely matches your own,then follow the hook-up method
corresponding to that system.

If none of these system configurations seem to match yours,
consult your dealer or Infinity customer service for direction on
how best to hook up your system.

For Methods 2,3a,3b and 4,make sure all bass-management
features are properly set.The Audio channels should all be set to
“Small”or “High-Pass” and the subwoofer set to “On.”

–

++

–

+

–

OUTPUTS

POWER

0

LOW-PASS

FILTER

LOW-PASS

FILTER

LOW­LEVEL
INPUT

LOW­LEVEL

OUTPUT

HIGH-LEVEL
HIGH-PASS

FILTER

PHASE

AC FUSE

6A 250V

180

80

50 130

ON

OFF

ON

OFF

INTERMEZZO 1.2s

L

R

L

R

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN

RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR

LOOSEN TERMINALS
INSERT BARE END;

TIGHTEN TERMINALS

SET LOW-P ASS

FILTER 9 TO “ON”

SET HIGH-PASS SWITCH

5

TO “ON” OR “OFF” (SEE P. 8)

1.

2.

3.

4.

BLACK =

–

NO STRIPE = –STRIPE =

+

RED =

+

INPUTS

L

R

120V – 60HZ 6A

–

+

AMPLIFIER/RECEIVER

SPEAKER
OUTPUTS

LEFT RIGHT

(ONE CHANNEL SHOWN)

––

++

RIGHT

SPEAKER

–

+

2-Channel receiver or integrated amplifier
that has no subwoofer output or
Pre-out/Main-In connectors 1

2-Channel receiver or integrated amplifier
with preamp output and input connectors 2

2-Channel system with separate preamplifier
and power amplifier 2

Dolby* Pro Logic* with THX,®Dolby Digital,
or DTS®receiver with a filtered subwoofer
(or LFE) output connector 3a

Dolby Digital or DTS processor with separate
power amplifiers or multichannel amplifier 3b

Non-THX certified Dolby Pro Logic receiver
with full-range subwoofer outputs 4

System Type Connection Methods

Method 1

5

INTERMEZZO 1.2s